Rock on, says CM to Kashmir’s first all-girl band

Feb 3, 2013, 04.55AM ISTTNN

Members of all-girls rock band "Pragaash", perform at the annual "Battle of Bands" competition in Srinagar, recently. (PTI Photo)

SRINAGAR: Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday led the chorus of support for the valley's first all-girl Sufi rock band — 'Pragaash' (light) — that was forced to quit live performances after abuses on social media.

The CM promised action while public support including a Facebook community "I support Pragaash, Kashmir's first all-girls' rock band" has encouraged them to bounce back with an album as a befitting reply to hate mongers.

"They have stopped live performances for the time being but are working on their album," said 22-year-old Adnan Muhammad Mattoo, Pragaash manager and a musician, who trained the teenaged girls — Farah Deeba, Aneeqa Khalid and Noma Nazir — at his Band Inn Music Academy in Srinagar. "They will be back with a bang."

The three could not be contacted and are said to be in New Delhi. "Thanks for the support everyone. It really means a lot!" wrote the band's guitarist, Aneeqa Khalid, on the community page that had managed 594 likes since Friday when it was started.

The band gained prominence after their exceptional performance at the annual "Battle of the Bands" event that Mattoo has been organizing to encourage young talent since 2008. The abuse began days later, forcing their alarmed parents to ensure they keep a low profile. They had won the best performance award in their first public appearance.

Omar joined hundreds of Pragaash supporters on Twitter to lend his support. "I hope these talented young girls will not let a handful of morons silence them...," he tweeted. He said police would examine the threats and whether any provision of the law can be used to book those making them. " Shame on those who claim freedom of speech via social media & then use that freedom to threaten girls who have the right to choose to sing."

"We are yet to outdo haters. Keep the support coming in," Shehla Rashid Shora, one of the band supporters, wrote on the Facebook page. "Misogyny is not restricted to Kashmir. It's only being recognized here now because people are raising a voice against it."

Mattoo said the support had overwhelmed the girls, whose talents he described as "astonishing". He said they also needed financial support to chase their dreams. "We need sponsors, otherwise we would be unable to realize the dream of releasing the album."

He said he had ignored abuses when he was tagged and threatened on Facebook first in December. But it rattled the girls and their families. "They are just 15 and too young to face such abuse. They are hurt. They cried, but I tried to convince them to continue."

He said they were doing nothing wrong and they were carrying forward the glorious tradition of Kashmiri Sufi music dedicated to love of the Prophet. "We do not know who these people are and want to get to the bottom of this."

The 22-year-old said they were looking for more government support for over 40 music bands in the Valley. "People would be encouraged if they see a future in this profession and we need the government's support for it."

He said they have trying to get an appointment with the CM for over a year. "I expect Omar Abdullah, a music lover, to support us," he said. "I have met (former chief minister) Mufti (Mohammad Sayeed) Saab. He was very encouraging and so are the common people, who are happy with us as we represent Kashmir."

Lawyer Mohammad Ashraf said social network sites have been used to instigate violence and malign others to settle personal scores despite the cyber crime laws. "The police have set-up a wing to deal with it."

Organizers of late Jagjit Singh's concert some years back faced similar abuses.